Model boat sailing competition gets under way in West Kirby

May 30 2011 By Alan Weston

Model boat sailing competition gets under way in West Kirby ahead of Royal visit

THE world’s best model boat skippers have converged on Wirral over the bank holiday to compete in  a world championship competition.

The  International One Metre (IOM) class World Championships is being hosted by West Kirby Sailing Club and the Model Yachting Association (MYA).

The event attracted around 76 of the world’s best radio sailing skippers from more than 20 countries. After Saturday’s opening ceremony, six days of racing on the Marine Lake got under way yesterday.

The world champion will be announced in a medal ceremony at the sailing club on June 4.

The radio controlled boats are steered from the shore by the competitors and have a winch on board to sheet the sails in and out.

The championships will also be graced by a visit from HRH the Duke of Edinburgh on Tuesday.

Prince Philip, who is patron of the MYA, is a keen supporter of model yachting and will be viewing the action at the West Kirby marine lake mid-way through the competition.

His visit is also part of the association’s centenary celebrations.